Top 5 Tips to Treat and Prevent Sciatica

Many people think of sciatica, symptoms of which include pain down the leg, some numbness and weakness of the limbs as just another case of lower back pain and believe that with sufficient rest, the pain will go away. However, sciatica is a little more serious than that.

If you're reading this article, it's a good bet that you have a radiating pain running down the back of your leg that just won't go away. If what I'm about to tell you sounds familiar, don't worry, help is on the way.

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4. Take A Seat The Right Way When you do have to sit, make sure that your posture does not make your sciatica worse. Your knees and hips should be bent at about 90-degree angles. Your weight should be on the ischium tuberosity - the sitting bones - and not on the tailbone.

Sufferers of sciatica surely pray daily for a cure to relieve the constant pain and misery caused by this common condition. Any cure is specific to determination of the cause. In the case of sciatica the causes appear to be numerous.

The other way sciatic pain creeps into your life is due to your lifestyle and habits, and that is what we like to call the process. The process can be described as a prolonged onset of symptoms based on your everyday activities...

1. Adjust Your Seat Most people position the car seat too far back when they drive. You put a lot of strain on your back when you have to stretch to reach your pedals. You should be able to press the gas pedal just by flexing your ankle. Your hips should be at about 90-degree angle, and your back should be in neutral, not bent, not perfectly straight, but comfortable.

6. Write Your Own Prescription Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen remain the treatment of choice for sciatica. They can reduce any nerve inflammation caused by the pressure of a herniated disk. These medications won't cure your pain, but they will make it more tolerable.

Tip 3: Exercise Regularly: Regular exercise will not only help you in your general fitness but also in the fitness of your lower back. Abdominal crunches are very helpful in strengthening your lower back. Swimming or Walking can also help with the lower back.

In addition, you will find offered self-mobilization classes in which you will be taught to eliminate stress and pain by developing mind control of the body. Another suggested cure for sciatica is routinely performing natural exercises which have been designed to not only relieves the pain from your sciatica problem, but will also make you a fitter person. It is a popular belief that you should routinely stretch and exercise your muscles. It has been said that muscles that have been allowed to deteriorate through inactivity, damage the sciatica and thus cause you more unwanted sciatica pain.

Find out what's causing your sciatic pain and learn exactly which exercises and stretches you should be doing by watching our Lose the Back Pain Video. Order your copy now online at http://www.losethebackpain.com

3. Pressure caused by Isthmic spondylolisthesis which is simply when a vertebrae slips or moves... this can sometimes pinch the sciatic nerve but often times people who have this condition don't have any pain, symptoms, or even know they have it!

Almost all these treatments are accompanied or followed by physical therapy, under a physician's supervision or on his prescribed course. This kind of physical therapy concentrates on building the muscles around the sciatica nerve roots so as to strengthen the lower back.

As you may well imagine, people constantly experiencing pain, immobility and the inability to perform normal daily functions, are quite eager to grasp at any potential solution that could relieve those symptoms. They may achieve an acceptable degree of pain relief but do nothing to treat the cause of that pain.

2. Don't Get Crossed You tend to cross the same leg all the time. That means you are always sitting on the same buttock, which puts a lot of pressure on the sciatic nerve on that side. Ideally, you should not cross your legs at all. But if you must, at least try to switch sides from time to time.

So how do you get rid of your pain? Will learning one new stretch be enough? It very well may be. However depending on the severity of your condition you may need to change your activities of daily living to include new stretches, new exercises that include the use of the hip rotators like roller-blading, basketball, tennis, etc, and even better, specific corrective exercise specific to your situation... like those covered in our video. As always, learn as much as you can about your condition, so that you can ask the tough questions to your healthcare providers and get the best care possible.

At this time all the answers are not on the table. Some turn to natural cures for sciatica that may prove only temporary relief for the sciatica nerve condition. Some people seek the help of a doctor and follow his recommendations to achieve relief from the symptoms of sciatica. You may wish to conduct your own personal research utilizing a variety of the methods mentioned above to determine which method will provide the most effective relief from the pain you are suffering.

There are several self assessments you can perform to help identify which specific muscle imbalances you have and these are covered in our Lose the Back Pain Video along with step-by-step instructions on what to do to eliminate your imbalances and pain. You can learn more by visiting http://www.losethebackpain.com

Article courtesy of http://www.losethebackpain.com. Get the facts on sciatic nerve pain that your not getting from your doctor... free access to back pain articles, information, and research.

Recovery Tip: In severe cases, the sciatic pain can run from the top of the hip to the bottom of the foot. It is very important to recognize that changes and shifting of pain is often times a sign of improvement. Further more as a way of gauging recovery, take note of how far down the leg the pain goes. If the pain goes to the foot one day and then only makes it to the calf and then to the knee and then it can only make it to the hamstring that is a sign of improvement. You should feel good about those noticeable improvements and this should give you encouragement to keep working toward a full remission of pain.

1. Pressure caused by shortening and tightening of the piriformis muscle. This is almost always due to months or years of muscle imbalances in the hip rotator muscles.

There is however a contingent of the population that believes one of the cures for sciatica is engaging in a routine of exercises that treat the mind and body. Among the most popular of such techniques you may recognize the practices of Yoga and Pilates. These are said to be beneficial not only to the ill but also the healthy among us.

First, let me tell you why today's traditional treatment methods just flat out miss the boat. The medical community is so conditioned and focused on treating only the symptoms and trying to get in as many patients a day as possible, that many people are misdiagnosed and/or mistreated.

It is pain in the butt quite literally. It can also be a pain in the hip, the thigh, the lower leg, or even the foot. In fact, the condition known as sciatica can send pain shooting anywhere in your lower body. What is causing all the commotion is the sciatic nerve, which is not one but a group of nerves bound together in a single sheath. The sciatica nerve runs from your lower back down each leg all the way to the foot. When it is injured, inflamed, or irritated, it can produce pain at any point or every point along its route. The most common cause of sciatica is a herniated disk. Disks separate the vertebrae in your spine. The result is excruciating pain. On rare occasions, sciatica can result from other health problems. Some are serious, such as diabetes, blood clots, and tumors. But others are minor. You can even get sciatic pain from sitting too long in an awkward position. So have your pain checked out before you proceed with self-care. Here are some tips that you can consider to adopt to relieve your pain.

5. Flex Your Pelvis Pelvic tilts allow you to gently move the lumbar region of your spine, increasing circulation in the area. It is recommended to follow these instructions. Lie on your back with your feet on the floor and your knees bent. Tilt your pelvis so that your back flattens against the ground, then lift it up. Hold for 5 seconds and relax. Continue tilting and lifting and relaxing five to six times every hour when sciatica flares up.

For example, chiropractic treatment is one such method in which you are offered non-invasive and medication-free therapies, to treat your sciatica. Chiropractic treatments can involve ultrasounds, TENS, spinal adjustments and cold therapies. Other alternative methods of treatment include acupuncture or acupressure, in which fine needles are stuck at specific points to help relieve pain; yoga, which involve stretching exercises and help a certain kind of sciatica pain and biofeedback, which is said to be a mind-body therapy helping you train your mind and body in controlling your reactions to pain.

Very rarely, though, sciatica pain can be extremely severe and debilitating for patients who are recommended surgery. New surgical techniques like microsurgery and percutaneous removals allow patients to undergo these procedures and come out of the hospital much faster than ever before, decreasing the loss of work time.

In the end a true cure must treat the cause of the pain. The pain is merely a symptom. Although many causes have been identified, efforts will continue to establish better treatments that provide permanent relief and long term elimination of the cause.

"Sciatol really worked for me. After 2 weeks my shooting leg pain is gone and I feel so much better. Thank you!!!" Daniel

Sciatica and Piriformis Syndrome are the same condition... it is just that the medical community is starting to call the condition by the muscle (Piriformis) that is involved and getting away from calling it by the name of the nerve that is involved (sciatic) nothing more than semantics.

2. Another example is runners and bikers who actually work very hard tend to get sciatica because they fail to keep a strength vs. stretch balance in their workouts. Hence the imbalance creates a greater pull toward external rotation and the result is a tight Piriformis and an irritated sciatic nerve creating pain.

2. Pressure caused by spinal stenosis, which is a decrease in the space between the vertebrae. This is primarily caused by uneven pressure and compression due to muscle imbalances.

One last point, sciaitic pain is not caused by a lack of prescription medications so don't think that taking some anti-inflammatories or muscle relaxants will fix it... it won't! Also, many people are able to eliminate sciatic pain within days just by performing a few exercises and stretches... but not general exercise... the exact corrective exercises and stretches they need to do.

As you can see, there is a trend here... in nearly every case, muscle imbalances are the primary cause of the pressure being placed on the sciatic nerve.

For more info on sciatica treatment head to: http://www.sciaticatreatment.org today!

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4. Pressure caused by a herniated or bulging disc. A herniation is when a disc protrudes out from between the vertebrae and this can either be caused by an event like a car accident, or, by months or years of uneven pressure due to muscle imbalances. It is also important to note that many people with herniated discs don't even experience pain or symptoms, and many don't know they have the condition.

In most cases, people go to physical therapy or minimize their physical activity to break the pain - spasm cycle and in most cases your symptoms subside. However...the event will also set you up for a life time of sciatic pain if the Piriformis muscle does not recover 100% in both strength and flexibility.

Unfortunately today many people are suffering from sciatica pain and there are a number of treatments available that provide relief from the condition. The effectiveness varies and relates directly to the causes. All too often relief is only short term and the misery returns.

Sciatic pain is simply caused by pressure being placed on the sciatic nerve and there are primarily four things that can create this... you may have one or more of the following:

Occasionally, the sciatic nerve roots - which start at the base of the spine and stretch all the way to the feet through the buttock and legs - get compressed or irritated causing pain not only in the lower back but also in the buttocks, thighs, legs, extending even to the feet.

Let me give you some examples of what I mean: 1. If you sit on the edge of your chair with you legs separated and your feet pointing outward you are keeping your Piriformis muscle in a shortened position and that's how it gets tight and with extended sitting in that position, it gets weak form lack of use. Hence the imbalance.

When you have an injury to a muscle, both strength and flexibility are compromised, and if your recovery ends before strength and flexibility return, you will never be 100% and will likely struggle with the problem forever.

Not A Permanent Cure It remains quite frustrating that most so called cures are not cures at all. It can best be described as interim relief. Choosing inappropriately labelled cures for sciatica may well actually result in being cured permanently. Many of the so called cures that available are no more than temporary relief of pain and symptoms that result from the true cause of the condition that remains untreated.

Tip 4: Medication and Physical Therapy: If you are suffering from lower back and leg pain, you could start off with simple painkillers, such as ibuprofen or paracetamol. If the pain is severe, affecting your day-to-day activities and simple painkillers do not work, you could have an anti-inflammatory medication prescribed for you. At times, these too are not enough and your doctor may suggest an epidural injection. In this, the medication is injected into the spine, which directs it to the areas of the sciatic nerve roots, soothing them and relieving the pain.

There are many ways of treating sciatica but there also many ways of preventing sciatica in the first place. We will look at some of the best ways to prevent and treat Sciatica.

However, from a technical stand point the process really describes the development of the muscle imbalance in your hip. The Piriformis muscle is responsible for external rotation (moving your leg so your feet point outward). So over time that muscle gets tight from the positions you put your self in and weakens from lack of use.

Did you go see your primary care physician and get diagnosis of Sciatica only to have them refer you to an orthopedic specialist and than get a diagnosis of Piriformis Syndrome... and than be told to see a Physical Therapist and the PT tells you a little heat, ultra sound, electrical stimulation and some therapeutic exercises and we will have you good as new???

To learn more about muscle imbalances and how they affect your body, please read our article "Aches, Pains, and Injuries" which you can find on our website here: http://www.losethebackpain.com/achesandpainsarticle.html

3. Go For Yoga Practicing certain yoga exercises can help ease sciatic pain. It is recommended to try out this exercise. Lie on your back with your claves resting on the seat of a chair. Your hips and knees should be bent at about 90-degrees angles. Cross your arms over your chest and place your hands on your shoulders, not on your neck. Inhale, then begin a long, slow exhalation. During the exhalation, tilt your pelvis so that your lower back moves to the floor as you flatten your abdomen. Raise your shoulders 6 to 10 inches off the ground. Lower your right shoulder to touch the floor. Repeat, this time lowering and raising your left shoulder instead. Do this five to six times per side.

Tip 1: Posture, Posture, Posture: Maintaining a good posture while standing and sitting go a long way to avoid damage to the spine. Also one should avoid sitting or standing for very long periods.

Tip 2: Lifting of Heavy Objects: Try to share the load of very heavy objects with others. If you have to lift something by yourself, hold it close to you and then bend your knees, rather than bending your back.

About the Author:

Tom Henricks is a retired utility worker and charter fisherman from The Canadian of Shore of Lake Erie.For more information about Sciatica please visit Treat SciaticaFor more information about Senior health please visit Treat Arthritis

If this is the path you have been down and you're tired of all the worthless treatments that just don't work, you must read this article! I guarantee you, it will likely be far different than what you have read or heard anywhere else!

7. Give Your Legs A Lift Try to keep pressure off the lumbar region of your spine, from which most sciatica pain radiates. It is recommended lying on your back with your lower legs resting on a chair or a low table such as a coffee table. Your knees and hips should be bent at about 90-degree angles. Do this as needed for relief.

Sciatic pain comes about either due to a traumatic event, muscle imbalances, or a combination of both. The event scenario is most likely the catalyst for sudden onset of sciatic pain. So what happens... when there is undue stress on the Piriformis muscle that stress causes it to go into spasm and then you have pain due to the Piriformis muscle putting pressure on the sciatic nerve.

These are just two examples of how muscle imbalances can affect the Piriformis muscle and cause Sciatic pain. You may not be a runner or cyclist but I'll bet you have muscle imbalances that are causing your sciatic pain!

Tip 5: Alternative Methods of Treatment: Other than medication and surgery, many patients suffering from sciatica have tried alternative methods of treatment and have claimed great success with them.

If you are not sure which one of the four is causing your sciatic pain, I recommend you start with the basics. Most cases of sciatic pain are caused by muscle imbalances so if you begin to work on correcting any muscle imbalances you have, you should start to see improvement right away.

Raymond Lee is one of the foremost experts in the health and fitness industry and is the Founder of Bodyfixes Group specializing in body health, muscle development and dieting. He is currently the author of the latest edition of "Neck Exercises and Workouts." Visit http://www.bodyfixes.com for more information.

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